It was an eventful day for Chipstead’s new centre-half Storm Glautier, as Abbey Rangers came to the High Road, & poached a 2-1 win in the closing stages in the first match of the new Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon

After a solid goalless first half alongside fellow central defender, captain Quincy Rowe, he gave Chips the lead, but was later deemed to be the last defender & sent off, as a late free-kick was given by the referee, which the Abbey no. 3 curled beyond home keeper Jacob Bennett to clinch the win for his side

Chipstead had their chances during the first period - after a promising pre-season, with only one defeat in 7 games, the new squad seemed to be gelling well - Edd Mbango put over a teasing cross from the right, which was glanced behind for a corner, before James Mansfield went close with a shot from out wide, which went just past the near post into the side netting

Erick Rayo Arias nicked the ball off a defender wide right, & his cross nearly embarrassed the goalkeeper under his crossbar, but the ball bounced to safety - Deshon Carty curled a shot just beyond the far post, before Diego Munoz put over a dangerous cross from the left, but it was cleared

James Mansfield shot over the target from distance, & then Glautier’s low free-kick was allowed to bounce in the box, Mbango chased it down, before setting to Munoz, but his cross was too deep for Abioseh Davies - there was just time for Mbango to beat two defenders on the right, before crossing to Davies, who couldn’t quite get his shot away, & it remained scoreless at the break

Carty nearly gave Chips the lead early in the second half, but hit the outstretched leg of the Abbey keeper - the lead did arrive on 62 minutes, as Michael Agyemang delivered a free-kick to the far post, Glautier’s looping header eluded everyone, & landed in the back of the net, with Carty in close attention to make sure

The lead lasted 15 minutes, until an incisive Abbey move down their right saw the ball reach their no. 11 in the 6-yard box, who touched in for the equaliser

It was Abbey who now looked for the win - their no. 3 hit a curling left-footed free-kick onto the crossbar & behind, after Glautier had been harshly judged to have fouled his man

So when, in the next attack, Glautier was penalised for bringing down his man on the edge of the box, & saw red, the Abbey no. 3 repeated his earlier effort with a little more accuracy to make it 2-1

Sub Carl Oblitey hit his shot straight at the keeper, as Chips now sought an equaliser, & the ref blew for an infringement in the box, as Agyemang delivered another late free-kick, but they couldn’t muster a second goal, & finished empty-handed, needing to regroup before Tuesday’s tricky league trip to Knaphill